Dennis R. Drabek

Dennis was born March 28, 1946, in Loup City, Nebraska to Richard and Alyce (Piontkowski) Drabek and later graduated from Loup City High School. He married the love of his life, Diane Alber, on November 19, 1968. They enjoyed many adventures and one another’s company for 53 years. Dennis died on Friday, May 20, 2022 at his home in Kearney surrounded by his family after a 9-month fight with Stage 4 lung cancer. During this time, Dennis showed the same courage and bravery that enabled him to proudly serve his country in the 25 Division during the Vietnam War for 13-months in 1968-1969. Dennis was a member of the Legion and the First Lutheran Church in Kearney, NE. His dedication and work ethic was unparalleled. Denny worked at Eaton's Corporation in Kearney, NE (1973-2009) for 36 years with perfect attendance. He often worked 7-day weeks for months at a time but never complained. He retired in 2009. During his extra time, he enjoyed playing Keno and playing cards with friends and family. Denny was curious, intelligent, and extremely detail-oriented so that he completed projects and tasks with surgical precision. Denny could remember everything that he read, loved doing Word Jumble Puzzles, and thoroughly enjoyed watching the History Channel every chance he could. He was particularly intrigued and became somewhat obsessed with the idea of finding treasure while watching the Curse of Oak Island. He attempted to find his own treasure by doing scratch cards for fun. Denny loved the limelight, but he also loved the sunlight and being outdoors. He was an avid outdoorsman. He taught himself to hunt and fish at a young and later passed his knowledge on to his siblings, wife, children, and grandchildren. Denny took every chance he could to fish, hunt, and camp with family and friends. He visited many national parks and spent his free time researching his next adventure and the best gas mileage he could get. His favorite trips included Hawaii, Florida, Cayman, Cancun, the Grand Tetons, and the park that made the greatest impact on him, Glacier National Park. The two of them spent countless hours sitting on the loveseat, listening to, and singing songs with a little bob of his head and a twinkle in his big blue eyes. Denny, aka, the "Big D" was also known to perform karaoke on occasion to songs by AC/DC and Johnny Cash. Being of Polish heritage, you can bet your "dupa" that he loved apricot and cherry kolaches, Red Bull Vodka, a beer, and a good polka. Denny is survived by his wife, Diane (Kearney, NE); his three daughters, Denise Stubbs & spouse, Scott, of Lincoln, NE, Dena Harshbarger & spouse, Kyle, of Kearney, NE, and Dawn Dulitz of Kearney, NE; his six grandchildren: Mandi Long, Jory Long, Kolten Harshbarger, Masie Dulitz, Korbin Harshbarger, and Morgan Dulitz; 3 great-grandchildren: Steven, Jonathon, and Anthony Long; his sisters, Darlene Dorzynski of St. Paul, NE, Donna Maciejewski and Dorothy Drabek of Loup City, NE, and his brother, Dwayne Drabek of Kearney, NE. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 27, 2022 at First Lutheran Church in Kearney with Rev. Dr. Michelle Holley Carlson and Rev. Dr. Rick Carlson officiating. Interment will follow at Kearney Cemetery with Military honors provided by the Nebraska National Guard Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be held 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to the service all at the church. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.

Dennis R. Drabek

March 28, 1946 - May 20, 2022